Pimlico Day 5: Weekend of Good Turf and Bad Beats
After surviving a cold, harsh, wet winter horseplayers in the Mid-Atlantic region had been chomping at the bit for spring-like weather and they got it. During the first weekend of live racing at Pimlico Race Course they were treated to sunny skies, temps in the mid-60’s, and the return of turf racing for the first time in 2014.
On Saturday, Ben’s Cat christened the turf course, listed as “Good”, with his fifth consecutive victory in the Mr. Diz Stakes, while Embarr made her 6-year-old debut a winning one with a victory in the Dahlia Stakes. On Sunday, three of the nine races were contested on turf, having an average of 10 runners. Two of those races were won by the Master of Maryland Turf races, Horacio Karamanos. “Special K” is to Maryland turf as Jean Luc-Samyn (aka Samyn on the Green) was to the New York turf courses.
So the turf was good, but unfortunately for yours truly, the racing gods were not kind as I suffered not one, but two BAD BEATS at Pimlico…
#1 - On Saturday, I played the new 10 cent Jackpot P5 which starts in the 5th race. Went 3 deep in the first two legs, took the free space with Ben’s Cat in the 3rd leg followed by 2 and 3 in the 4th and 5th legs, respectively. Cost: $4.80
It began very promising, avoiding the chalk early in getting a $12.40 and $11.80 winners prior to Ben’s Cat walkover @ 1-5. The lone loss on the ticket came in the 4th leg by a head, in the Twixt Stakes, to a 0 for 10 maiden named Aunt Ellen (in photo above)!
Really?! A maiden winning a stakes race?! Yes, there have been maidens who have won stakes races. Usually they are first-time starters or have at least shown promise in their first couple starts, but not Aunt Ellen. In her previous start in a $40k maiden claimer, she was 3rd when 14-1 in a field of six. Of course, the $11.40 winner in the last leg was on my ticket.
#2 - On Sunday at Pimlico played the late P3 (R7-R9). Had 2 of 3, $5.60 winner in R7 and $12.00 (8-1 M/L) in R9. The loss was in the 2nd Leg (R8), having the runner (#7) who won by 13, but got taken down for interference entering the stretch against another horse on my ticket (#3 who was 6-1).
You just can't make this stuff up! If you have similar BAD BEATS, let’s hear about them because misery loves company.
Recapping posted selections from Sunday, April 6th at Pimlico, had 4 winners from 9 races (1 Top Selection; payoffs in BOLD) having $2 WIN pay-offs of $5.40 (4th race), $4.60 (6th), $5.80 (7th) and $12.20 (9th).
The BEST BET of the Day (14: 2-4-4) Distorted Dream (9th race: 9-2 M/L; 7-2 PT) raced well off the rail on the turn, was checked to avoid a broken down horse entering the stretch then finished willingly in the fifth position and was moved up to fourth after the second place finisher was disqualified and placed sixth.
The LONGSHOT PICK (14: 4-5-0) Mine N Gems (3rd race: 15-1 M/L) was SCRATCHED after selections were posted.
FYI – the BEST BET of the Day selection will never be a M/L favorite and the LONGSHOT PICK will simply be the runner having the highest M/L odds among my top picks for an entire card.
PLEASE NOTE: Statistics provided for the BEST BET and LONGSHOT PICK in parentheses represent the Number of Picks: Wins-Places-Shows. For example, the BEST BET (10: 1-2-3) was picked 10 times resulting in 1 winner, 2 places and 3 shows. In the past, I would reset these numbers at the start of each meet. For 2014, I reset these numbers on Jan. 1st in order to chart results on a yearly basis.
Selections for Thursday, Apr. 10th at Old Hilltop Top posted below reflect AFTER early scratches were announced. Track is FAST and TURF FIRM.
Soup of the Day at Pimlico: White Bean
1st race – $40,000 Maiden Claiming for 2 y.o. fillies – 4½ furlongs
#6 – Mast Cove (9-2)
#3 – Truth in the Lies (3-1)
#5 – Royalty Sea (5-1)
2nd race – $16,000 Claiming for 3 y.o. and up – 1 1/16 miles
#6 – Romp City (7-5)
#2 – I Love It (5-2)
#1 – Big Bad Ike (5-1)
3rd race – $5,000 Claiming for F&M 3 y.o. and up – 6 furlongs
#2 – Midsummer’s Eve (15-1) $$$ LONGSHOT PLAY $$$
#4 – Sister Sharon (9-5)
#3 – She Be Bunny (7-5)
4th race – $5,000 Claiming N2L for F&M 3 y.o. and up – 6 furlongs
#2 – Sarah’s Whisper (5-2)
#5 – Elbertini (6-1)
#7 – Hope and Mercy (2-1)
10 cent Jackpot Pick-5…Carryover: $12,887
The Play: 1,3,7 / 2,5,6 / 6,7,8 / 6,7,8 / 3,11,12 ($24.30)
5th race – $25,000 Claiming N2L for 3 y.o. and up – 5 furlongs ON TURF
#3 – Smart N Smokin (5-2)
#1 – Hypatia’s Sky (6-1)
#7 – Bethwithoutthehalo (15-1)
6th race – $15,000 Claiming N2L for 3 y.o. – 6 furlongs
#6 – Tubal (5-1)
#4 – We Found Love (9-5)
#5 – Pushin’ On (3-1)
7th race – $42,000 Allowance N1X for 3 y.o. and up – 5 furlongs ON TURF
#7 – Star Maneuver (6-1)
#8 – Make My Saturday (8-1)
#6 – Bowman’s Boy (3-1)
8th race – $42,000 Allowance N1X for 3 y.o. and up – 6 furlongs
#7 – Thurmont (6-1) *** BEST BET ***
#6 – Coach Fridge (10-1)
#8 – Avarice (6-5)
9th race – $25,000 Maiden Claiming for F&M 3 y.o. and up – 1 mile ON TURF
#12 – Tregger (4-1)
#11 – Maria’s Song (10-1)
#3 – Tiara Gold (3-1)
Food for Thought: Baseball Hall of Famers are typically successful in only 3 of 10 plate appearances. Think about it… Good Luck!